The anatomy of the fibrous and osseous components of the first extensor compartment of the wrist: a cadaveric study

De Quervain disease is the stenosing tenosynovitis of the first extensor compartment of the wrist. It is diagnosed with a history of pain at the radial aspect of the wrist and a positive Finkelstein test. Although anatomic variations, such as a septum within the compartment, are considered as risk factors, bony anatomy of distal radius and its correlation with the septa are studied scarcely in the literature. We dissected 50 wrists of 26 cadavers. Presence and location of a septum within the compartment was evaluated. We also observed the grooves at distal radius and their relation to the first extensor compartment and its content. The septum was absent in 23 wrists (46 %). A septum was present in 27 (54 %) wrists (15 incomplete 30 %, 12 complete 24 %). At the distal radius, we classified three radial groove types as Type 1 on 28 (56 %), Type 2 on 14 (28 %), and as Type 3 on 8 (16 %) wrists. There was a statistically significant relation between complete type of septa and Type 1 grooves (p = 0.002). We investigated the bony structures of the compartment along with its content and we believe our results might guide clinicians who diagnose and treat de Quervain tenosynovitis.